by Brian Byrne. Japanese and Korean carmakers are expecting to increase their penetration in Europe's car markets by over 11 percent in 2005, with a projected 3.4 million units in a flat market expected to outturn at around 15 million in total.
That would have the collective Asian input equalling the combined sales of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen group, Europe's best-performing carmaking group and France's biggest carmaker. PSA recently set aside its projections to reach 4 million vehicles annually next year.
The offensive combines the arrival of new models from Kia, Honda, Toyota and Hyundai as well as a 20 percent advantage gained in currency fluctuations against the strengthening euro.
